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These two homemade gift ideas will really impress your friends and loved ones! They are both very practical, and your loved ones will be sure to get a lot of use out of them. They can both be easily made in your Flagstaff apartment using supplies that are readily available in craft stores.
1. Infused Cooking Oil
This is a practical gift that everyone on your list will be able to make use of! Make it as soon as you can, so the oil has plenty of time to become fully infused with the flavors before you give it as a gift.
Supplies:
- Decorative bottle with narrow neck, such as an empty wine bottle or oil bottle.
- Pourer spout with cork, like the kind used in bars.
- Funnel.
- Assortment of fresh herbs and spices, such as rosemary, oregano and garlic.
- Premium olive oil.
Instructions:
- Insert a variety of fresh herbs and spices into a decorative bottle.
- Use a funnel to fill the bottle with premium olive oil.
- Cork the bottle with the pourer spout.
- Tie with a pretty ribbon.
- Attach a card that says what flavors the oil is infused with.
2. Photo Coasters
Everyone on your list will be able to use these practical and beautiful coasters. Make the gift even more personal by using images your gift recipients will relate to, such as family pictures or images of places they’ve visited.
Supplies:
- Plain, square, 4-inch ceramic tiles.
- Selection of photo images.
- Sponge-style paint brush.
- Felt circles (1/4-inch diameter).
- Mod Podge.
- Clear acrylic finish spray.
Instructions:
- Prepare images by cutting them to fit on top of tiles.
- Use the sponge paint brush to apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the tile.
- Center the image on top of the tile.
- Paint another thicker layer of Mod Podge over the image, being sure to cover the entire top of the tile.
- Allow to dry.
- Repeat step 4 .
- Allow to dry overnight.
- Spray with the acrylic finish clear coating.
- Allow to dry overnight. They will ready to wrap the next day.
Are you inspired to starting making homemade gifts in your Flagstaff apartment? Get started today by contacting us about available floor plans to suit every lifestyle!
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]]>The post 3 Ways to Decorate with String Lights appeared first on University Square Apartments Blog.
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With winter settling in and the days short, it is important to find things to do that brighten up your day. Decorating with string lights is perfect for wintertime—you can customize your home and enjoy beautiful illumination in the process. Here are three easy decorating ideas for string lights.
String Lighting: 3 Decorating Ideas for Your Home
1. Write a message to brighten the room.
One of the coolest ways to use string lighting is to write out text with the strings. Light and flexible, string lighting is great for creating messages. You could write a message to a loved one or to yourself. You could even create a motivational message that makes you happy every time you see it.
2. Make bottle lamps.
String lights are small enough that you can stuff them inside of objects pretty easily. What better place to put them than a pretty bottle? As long as the bottle lets light through, you can turn just about any bottle into a lamp. Experiment with different bottles and different colored lights to achieve a variety of effects.
3. Create a display for your photos.
Another cool thing to do with string lights is to use them for displaying your favorite photos. You can build a framework out of the wires between the lights that you can then hang the pictures from. Everyone will be able to see the pictures clearly because they are perfectly lit by the string lights. Try building a zigzag pattern with the lights in a corner of the room, hanging from each wall. Or you can hang the lights and pictures in a line, either vertical or horizontal.
Getting the Most Out of Your Apartment
At University Square, our team is dedicated to helping you enjoy your apartment to the fullest. Please contact us to find out more about any of our Flagstaff apartments!
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